By: Joelle Watkins
Various files tied to Cartoon Network productions have been leaked online, giving fans the opportunity to access detailed backgrounds, character model sheets, puppet rigs, animatics, and storyboards from some of their favorite cartoons.
The massive 200 GB leak contained files from cartoons like The Amazing World of Gumball, Regular Show, The Powerpuff Girls, and Adventure Time. According to The Digital Shield, the files were distributed through a Google Drive. Along with the drive, the anonymous leaker published a Google Doc that contained links to more files.
Many fans were excited and amused to see the leaks, but the leaks have led to concerns surrounding viewing artists’ and animators’ work without paying or authorization.
Concerns over leaks and piracy are nothing new to the animation community. Yet, with the rise of generative AI, new concerns have arisen. Many creators — and some fans — worry that people will scrape their work so that it can train AI models. The concerns become worse as copyright laws have put data scraping under the Fair Use Doctrine. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, training an AI model on a large and assorted dataset falls under the transformative aspect of the Fair Use Doctrine.
Artists are not getting paid when their art is used for training AI models. Or when AI is used to create something resembling their art style and content. According to the Copyright Alliance, without incentives to reward artists and creators for their work, there will be no respect for human creativity. Also, with AI being cheaper, creators worry that businesses will see no reason to hire or pay them for work.
While artists fear the files could be used to train AI, fans have begun repurposing them to create their own memes, animations, and other content. The Cartoon Network leak has let fans shift from passive audience members to active participants. The Google Drive and Doc have given fans access to animation resources, allowing them to learn the same creative building blocks as studio artists and employees.
Animators can use the character models and puppet rigs to further their own animation careers. Many of them have already posted their creations to X (Twitter) and TikTok. On the other hand, fans of animation are just looking through the files to see the behind-the-scenes of their favorite cartoons.
Overall, the leaks have allowed fans to reminisce about Cartoon Network shows that ended many years ago. It has given them new content to look over and enjoy after feeling as though Cartoon Network wouldn’t be releasing any new content.
After hours of circulation on the internet, the original Google Doc and Drive have since been taken down by Google. Also, according to the Tribune, some of the leaks were removed because of copyright complaints.
